- Kaitlyn Dever takes on controversial character
- The voice from The Last Us Part II video game will star
- Home Alone actor cast in guest role
The latest teaser clip for The Last of Us Season 2 has fans excited for the next instalment of the post-apocalyptic HBO series. It offers another glimpse at some of the video game characters joining the show.
Just as season 1 was based on the 2013 PlayStation 3 video game of the same name, season 2 is an adaptation of the game’s sequel, The Last of Us Part II. The sequel was released on PlayStation 4 in 2020.
Season 2 is set five years after the events of the first season and introduces the character of soldier Abby, amongst others.
While not all characters are confirmed for season 2, the cast is assembled. Here’s a rundown of everybody new and returning that’s starring.
Pedro Pascal – Joel
Pedro Pascal will continue his role as the central character, Joel.
Pascal has gone strength to strength since his breakout role as Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones (2014).
Read more: What is Pedro Pascal’s Net Worth?
His portrayal of Javier Peña in the Netflix crime series Narcos propelled him to stardom, leading to lead roles in The Mandalorian and this series.
Bella Ramsey – Ellie
Bella Ramsey will return for the role as the mature beyond her years Ellie.
In a post-season 1 finale interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mazin made it clear they had no intention of re-casting Ellie, despite Ramsey turning 20 for the production of season 2.
He said, “we know what we’re gonna do in terms of costume and makeup and hair, but more importantly, we also know the spirit and soul of the actor”.
Gabriel Luna – Tommy
Gabriel Luna returns for season 2. Luna plays Tommy, the younger brother of Joel, who joins the Firefly rebels and lives in a safe, civilized settlement in Jackson.
“When I played the games, I experienced the story as one big chunk, one unified story. So I was just as much prepping for Part II as I was for the work that was immediately on hand”, Luna told Entertainment Weekly in an interview.
Luna’s most notable acting roles include Rev-9, a highly advanced Terminator, in the Terminator: Dark Fate film.
Rutina Wesley – Maria
Rutina Wesley will reprise her role as Maria, a co-leader of the survivors in Jackson and Tommy’s pregnant wife.
Wesley is best known for playing Tara Thornton in True Blood and Nova Bordelon in Queen Sugar.
Playing Maria in season 1 was a challenge for Wesley, but she was up for it, telling Entertainment Weekly, “It’s terrifying playing a character that’s been established, even though it’s a game. But I also was up for the challenge of playing her in my way and putting my energy on it to see what people would think of that.”
Kaitlyn Dever – Abby
Abigail ‘Abby’ Anderson is the main character in The Last of Us Part II video game and Katlyn Dever joins the cast to portray the soldier in season 2.
Dever caught the eye of the production team following her performance in sci-fi horror film No One Will Save You.
The character caused some controversy when the video game was released in 2020. Abby’s muscular physique became a focal point of criticism from some players, particularly because she was not a traditionally feminine character.
Dever had additional protection during filming due to the toxicity surrounding Abby.
Young Mazino – Jesse
Emmy-nominated actor and the star of Beef, Young Mazino, joins the cast as Jesse.
Read more: All we know about The Last of Us Season 2
Jesse is described as a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own, sometimes at terrible cost. He is the leader of patrol groups in the community of Jackson.
The show’s creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann praised Mazino in a statement, saying “Young is one of those rare actors who is immediately undeniable the moment you see him. We’re so lucky to have him”.
Isabela Merced – Dina
Isabela Merced, who is also set to star as Hawkgirl in the new Superman – plays Dina. Dina is Jesse’s ex and Ellie’s new love interest. The character is expected to play a major role in the unfoldings of season 2.
“Dina is warm, brilliant, wild, funny, moral, dangerous and instantly lovable. You can search forever for an actor who effortlessly embodies all of those things, or you can find Isabela Merced right away. We couldn’t be prouder to have her join our family”, said Mazin and Druckmann.
Danny Ramirez – Manny
Danny Ramirez – who played Fanboy in Top Gun: Maverick – is taking on the role of loyal soldier Manny in season 2.
Manny is part of Abby’s group and fears that he will fail his friends when they need him most.
Ramirez spoke on the Steve Varley Show about his involvement, saying “It’s gonna be crazy…I can see why it has such a massive following, because you don’t stray away from quality”.
Jeffrey Wright – Isaac
In a loose sense, this is a re-casting. Jeffrey Wright will appear in the role of Isaac, whom he previously voiced in The Last Us Part II video game.
Isaac is a quietly powerful leader of the large militia group, Washington Liberation Front.
Wright is widely regarded as an acclaimed actor with many prestigious credits to his name, including in the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), and No Time to Die (2021). He also starred in American Fiction (2003), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Catherine O’Hara – Undisclosed Guest Role
Catherine’s role has not been revealed, but will likely be an important character in the new season.
She will appear in three episodes and it’s rumored that she will be playing the role of therapist. This comes after she is seen conducting what looks like therapy sessions in a teaser trailer.
O’Hara is best known for Schitt’s Creek, Beetlejuice and of course as Kevin McCallister’s mother in Home Alone.
Ariela Barer – Mel
Ariela Barer plays a young doctor committed to saving lives in the post-apocalyptic world, while struggling with the realities of war. In the story, Mel plays a significant role in the conflict between Ellie and Abby.
Barer is best known for playing the role of Gert Yorkes in the Hulu original series Runaways.
Spencer Lord – Owen
Canadian actor Spencer Lord will play Owen, who is described as a gentle soul trapped in a warrior’s body, condemned to fight an enemy he refuses to hate.
Lord has previously acted in tv series Riverdale and The Good Doctor.
Tati Gabrielle – Nora
Tati Gabrielle plays Nora, a military medic who arrives in Jackson alongside Abby, Owen, Manny, and Mel. Nora struggles to come to terms with the sins of her past.
Gabrielle starred in the hit Netflix thriller series You as one of the main character’s Marienne Bellamy.
Joe Pantoliano – Eugene
Joe Pantoliano, who portrayed Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos, is set to play Eugene, a minor character from the video game who gamers only catch a glimpse of when he appears in a photograph.
Robert John Burke – Seth
Robert John Burke, who played RoboCop in the franchise’s third instalment, plays Seth, who runs a bar in the Jackson, Wyoming community. He is a husband and father of three sons.
Noah Lamanna – Kat
Noel Lamanna, who previously guested in The Umbrella Academy, takes on the role of Ellie’s ex, tattoo artist Kat. They dated before the events of Part II.
Alanna Ubach – Hanrahan
Alanna Ubach, best known for voicing Mamá Imelda in Coco (2017) is set to play an original character created for the series named Hanrahan.
Hettienne Park- Elise Park
Hettienne Park, who played the role of Beverly Katz in Hannibal (2013–2014) is also taking on a new character for the series. She’ll be portraying Elise Park.
Ben Ahlers – Burton
Burton is another character created specifically for the show and will be played by Ben Ahlers. Ahlers portrayed Lucas Hunt in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018).
